Spring Retreat with Brad Warner

Start
28 Apr 2016
6:00 PM
End
01 May 2016
12:00 PM
Location
Sautee Hereford Lodge, Sautee Georgia
Spaces left
3
Registered
15 registrants

Registration

(depends on selected options)

Base fee:

Public – $150.00

Registration is closed

Red Clay Sangha Spring Retreat with Brad Warner

Thursday April 28 - Sunday May 1, 2016

Sautee Hereford Lodge

This will be a simple retreat focusing on the Shikantaza style zazen practice described by Master Dogen in his 13th century classing Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye). Students will spend most of the retreat in seated silent zazen practice periods of 30 minutes each, broken up by 10-minute rounds of walking meditation. This unadorned, bare-bones style was said by Master Dogen to be the deepest and most profound of all meditation methods. Fear not, though! The stories you’ve heard about shouting Zen masters hitting students with big sticks are mostly exaggerations and, in any case, that’s not what we’ll be doing here. There won’t be a lot of ritual or chanting, but there will be group talks and discussions and ample time for private instruction and questions.

This residential 4-day/3-night retreat, held mostly in silence, is recommended for both beginning and experienced meditators.

Brad Warner is author of the books There Is No God and He Is Always With You, Hardcore Zen, Sit Down and Shut Up, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate and Sex Sin and Zen. He was ordained a Zen teacher in the Soto lineage in 1999 by Gudo Nishijima Roshi, plays bass for the hardcore punk group Zero Defex and worked for the company founded by the man who created Godzilla. He has practiced Zen for over 30 years, beginning when he was a student at Kent State University.

Facility The Sautee Hereford Lodge sits on

a beautiful 350 acre ranch in North East Georgia (2 hours from Atlanta). The lodge has 12 bedrooms, 6½ baths, a full kitchen and eating area, and separated meditation hall.

Accommodations You may choose a shared room in the lodge or tent camping on the grounds.

Climate Control The retreat organizer will set thermostats to maintain a reasonable temperature and air flow in the lodge and meditation hall. The fans on the units can be noisy and guests should be prepared for the noise. Anyone who experiences discomfort should contact the retreat organizer and should not adjust thermostats.

Meditation Hall The teacher will designate how the

meditation hall is to be used, including AC, seating arrangements, bell protocols, window treatments, lighting, and arrival time.

Schedule The retreat begins Thursday evening with

a meal at 6pm and ends Sunday after lunch.

Late Arrivals Because many folks will need to work on Thursday, you may arrive until 9pm on Thursday night. Please indicate your planned arrival time on your registration form.

Meals Meals are vegetarian with dairy (labeled). Coffee, tea and snacks will be available during breaks.

All participants will have an opportunity for silent work in the kitchen to help prepare or cleanup our food.

Cost The cost of this retreat is $150 per person and includes accommodations and all meals. There will be an opportunity to practice Dana (generosity) to the teacher.

This cost covers the facility, food, accommodations, and teacher expenses. It provides no profit to Red Clay Sangha.

Financial Assistance We would like for every one to be able to attend regardless of ability to pay. To achieve this goal, we need those who are able to contribute into a fund to help pay for those who are unable. This gives everyone the opportunity to practice generosity together.

All funds collected for this purpose will be divided equally between those who have requested them. You will be notified no later than 2 weeks prior to the retreat if there are insufficient funds to meet your request.

Payment and Cancellation Full payment is required two weeks prior to the retreat to guarantee your spot. If payment or scholarship request has not been received, RCS reserves the right to fill spaces from any waiting list.

Cancellations at least two weeks prior to the retreat will be fully refunded. After this date, full refunds will be given only if the spot can be filled from the waiting list. If the spot cannot be filled, 2/3 will be refunded up to 2 days before the retreat.

No refunds will be made for cancellations less than two days prior to the retreat.

Benefactors For those who are unable to attend the retreat, but wish to practice generosity to those who cannot afford it, you may make a contribution which will be used for this purpose here.

Dana is the practice of generosity and helps remind us of the fundamental connected nature of life. By supporting our teachers we deepen our own experience on the path of practice while helping them to support others.

Teachers generously give their time and energy through listening, sharing and teaching, often without financial reward. Offering dana makes it possible for them to continue their work and is their primary means of support.

In the spirit of this tradition, all participants will have an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution, called dana, at the end of the retreat. Because participants often ask what is considered appropriate, we offer the following guidelines: you may wish to make a contribution between $75-$150 for the retreat. Keep in mind your personal ability to give and what others might be able to contribute. Dana is entirely from the heart.

The Red Clay Sangha membership covers the travel expenses and a small contribution to the teacher. The retreat fees are used exclusively to cover the cost of the facility and food.

Questions or More Information? please contact Richard Skoonberg.